The Steady Tick

I settled beside the small brass alarm clock resting on the polished wooden nightstand. In the quiet of the bedroom, its mechanical cadence was remarkably clear and disciplined. Placing both knitted paws against the cool curvature of its metal frame, I could feel the tiny internal gears clicking steadily through my seams. The two pale luminous hands stood angled toward the hour, advancing with unhurried precision. I matched my breathing to each gentle tap, watching the fine second hand trace its circular path across the numbers. Finding such steady rhythm in the stillness makes settling in for the night feel completely orderly.